Sheet, mattress, and blanket clamp



Feb. 27, 1934. H. B. HART 1,948,965

SHEET, MATTRESS, AND BLANKET CLAMP Filed May l2, 1933 1,7706?? Zor Patented Feb. Z7, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFlCE 2 Claims.

My present invention ls a novel and improved spring clamp intended particularly for use in holding sheets, blankets, or the like, in position on a bed when made to facilitate maintaining the bedclothes and mattress in proper relative position, and to simplify the work of bed-making.

My invention is so constructed and designed to permit the bottom sheet of a bed to be held yieldingly and yet firmly clamped in smooth, unrumpled position even during use and without objection to the occupant. Thus, by utilizing a set of my clamps at each side of the head and foot of the bed, the bottom sheet is at all times held under tension to hold the same smooth. Also, with a set of the same or different clamps at the bottom of the bed, holding the blankets and upper sheet in iirm but yielding tension, the upper bedclothes may be readily thrown off for airing and yet without permitting them to be displaced Where tucked in and held at the bottom of the mattress, hence simplifying, facilitating, and speeding up the Work oi re-making the bed.

In hotels, steamships, rooming houses, and the like, as well as in private residences the work of bed-making is always an arduous task, particularly the necessity of unmaking the entire coverings and bottom sheet.

By my invention I am enabled at all times to keep the bottom sheet in position and held smooth and under yielding tension, and also to keep the upper sheet, both blankets, and coverings in position at the foot of the bed.

With a set of my clamps, it is thus possible to greatly reduce the help needed in hotels, steamers, and boarding houses for bed-making, and also to decrease the labor of remakng each bed.

Further, my novel type of spring clamps are light, strong, will not injure, mar, nor tear the bedclothes, and are readily covered by the spread or counterpane, thus being obscured from View.

An important feature of my present spring clamp is that I have carefully adjusted the spring tension both of the main portion of the clamp and of each arm, so that when in clamping position and, hence, under tension the arms will be substantially parallel and will exert a rm, even, but non-injurious grip on sheets and bedclothes.

A further feature is that I have devised a novel type of extra tensioning device or knob positioned at the end of each of the clamping arms which will insure holding the sheet or blanket clamped under tension without injury.

(Cl. 2li-72.5)

Referring to the drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment,

Fig. l is a side View, partly broken away, of a conventional bed and mattress with my clamp applied;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the clamp, and

Fig. 5 is a side view illustrating the clamp in normal contracted and with a showing in dotted lines of the expanded position.

As shown in Fig. l, a conventional form of bed, comprising the side bars 1, head post 2, and foot y0 post 3, is illustrated wherein a mattress 5 is shown.

The lowermost sheet is indicated at 6, usually spread over the mattress and tucked under at both sides and top. An upper sheet 7, blankets 8 and 9, and spread or counterpane 10, and pillow ll are also indicated.

My novel clamp comprises a U-shaped spring metallic form consisting of a main or body por tion 12 and extending arms 16 and 17, each arm preferably formedwith a slight semi-circular knob 18 designated to effect a clamping action on the bed clothing with which it is in contact.

The bed having the bottom sheet rst applied, I aix my improved clamp at each side of the same at the head of the bed as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, which will thus hold the sheet under yielding tension. At the foot of the bed I apply my clamps at each side, engaging also the top sheet and blankets 16, 17 about three inches back from the end of the mattress or at any convenient point.

The tension of the spring and arms is so constructed and arranged that when the arms 16 and 17 are raised to apply to a clamping position they will be substantially parallel and when so parallel will exert the desired holding but nontearing tension in case the sheets or covers are pulled thereunder. `It is, of course, very easy to remove the clamps and reapply them when desired.

I am aware that spring clamps have been utilized in connection with holding bed-covers but not, so far as I am advised, to clamp both the sheet independently with a yielding but nontearing tension and the sheets and covers to prevent their being pulled out at the foot and to facilitate the bed-making operation.

The important feature of having the clamping arms appropriately inclined to give suitable and cooperative tension, depending on the size, weight, and spring temper from which the clamp 110 tet tensioned to be normally disaligned and to be substantially parallel when in use.

2. As an improved article of manufacture, a combined sheet, blanket and mattress clamp, comprising a one-piece unit of spring metal, having a U-shaped form with the extending arms tensioned to be normally disaligned and to be substantially parallel when in use, each of said arms having a rounded knob adapted to hold the articles clasped under tension While permitting the same to be withdrawn free of injury.

HARRY B. HART. 

